BOS
Meeting
June
9, 2014
The
meeting began with the Town
Administrator’s Report. The Purchase & Sale agreement for 252
Baldwinville Rd. is being prepared. Bi-Weekly paychecks may begin on July 1st.
Three internal candidates were interviewed for Police Chief.
The
minutes were approved and appointments were made. Holly Young, Sr. Legal
Administrative Assistant, presented a report on the tax title property auction,
which brought in $8500 for the town.
The
BOS appointed the Town Administrator to represent Templeton on the MART Adv.
Board and MRPC.
Memorial St.:
A
public hearing was held on changing Memorial St to a one-way street. After much
debate, it was voted to make Memorial St. a one-way street on a 90-day trial
basis. This change will take effect on July 1, 2014. An additional stop sign
will be placed at the intersection of Memorial St. and Summer St.
Executive Session:
Under
MGL c30A sec. 21(2) the board voted to go into executive session.
The
board reconvened in open session. A motion was made and seconded to appoint
Sgt. Mike Bennett as Police Chief.
A
motion was made and seconded to allow the Chair to begin contract negotiations
for Town Administrator with Bob Markel after notifying the finalists.
Solar Pilot Agreement:
The
failure of the vote at town meeting for the solar project, has created some
issues that need to be addressed. I placed this topic on the agenda because I
think this is a good project, but the PILOT
agreement needs to be reworked to meet the DOR
Guidelines. It was decided that the Assessors will make a report to the BOS
regarding this project. The PILOT payment is between the Town and the project
owner.
It
was also voted to have Special Town Meeting in early July so this new agreement
can be voted on by town meeting. The warrant for this STM is open until noon on
June 23rd.
Chapter 90 money
Highway
Supt. Bud Chase presented a plan to use the supplemental road money to repair
part of Rt. 101 in East Templeton. This additional $50,000 is from the state.
The project must be identified by June 30th and completed by Sept.
30th.
Orchard
Lane and other Chapter 90 road projects will be discussed at a future date.
East Templeton Update:
Earlier
in the meeting, the BOS signed an agreement with the Architectural
Access Board. Templeton has a
variance for the handicap ramp and bathroom.
The
contract documents to repair the roof have been signed. The official moving date
to East Templeton is June 25th. Town offices will be closed that
week to facilitate the move.
Many
thanks to :
Aubuchon’s
Hardware for the very generous donation of paint, primer and supplies.
Mailman’s
Carpet Cleaning will clean the carpets.
Worcester
County Sheriff’s office.
Royer’s
catering for providing food for the workers at E.T.
Valley
Florist will help with landscaping.
Many
individuals who have stepped up to the town office transition a reality.
Special
thanks to the employees who have been laid off who have stepped up to help the
town- Dianna Morrison and Dave Smart. Thank you to Jeannette Lemire, Ashley and
Kevin Bird, Michael Greene. This project would not have been without Wil
Spring’s tenacity in preserving this building.
I apologize
to anyone omitted.
Other items:
The
Town Administrator will restart discussions about a contract for TMLWP vendor
and payroll warrants.
Costs
will be determined for providing dispatch service to sewer, light and water.
When
the state budget passes a plan will be made to recoup transportation costs from
NRSD and Monty Tech.
The BOS voted to have
employees return on July 1, 2014.
My
opinions …supported by FACTS ! ! !
Julie
Farrell
I think the most important thing that happened last night was the board voting to ask Mr. Markel to be our next Town Administrator. I could not see asking anyone else, if he would be willing to do it. He has a clear understanding of where the town stands, and what needs to be done. I spoke to him yesterday, and told him the people in our town that attend meetings, like him very much, and that I had hoped that he could stay. I do not think the town's people could take another failure, by hiring a person for Administrator, only to find out too late that the person was not right for the job. In discussing the PILOT agreement for the Solar field planned for Farnsworth Road, it seems there is a push to get the agreement done. It was mentioned that the Town Meeting could vote to give the Select Board the right to vote on the agreement, instead of the people voting. I can not see the people handing over their right to vote on this matter, considering how the Light Commissioners have behaved toward the town's people. Our town is in a financial hole, and is not going to get out of it easily. The numbers for the PILOT had better improve, and should be based on facts the Assessors Office can provide. Paying a PILOT is the price of doing business, and the people who run this company know that. There was also some brief talk about the PILOT from the Light Company. They want it based on the electricity they sell, not on their wealth. Can we trust their numbers?? Not if they continue to play games like they did when Mr. Spring was working on their budget. We will see how this works out, but first we need to move to East Templeton. Bev.
ReplyDeleteBennett is next police chief as I called it 2 months ago, Can you say the fix is in?
ReplyDeleteI hope the BOS remember the elementary school is a town of Templeton project & NOT a district project! The ones who should be on top of that project is the selectmen.
ReplyDeleteI have heard the figure of thirty four million dollars for the school project is this a fiction?
ReplyDeleteIt had better be, but considering where they want to put the thing, the site work will cost a fortune for that alone. The deal we got from the state in the land swap, may prove to be the projects undoing. The question should be where is the money coming from ? Will the Light Company chip in ? Don't hold your breath ! This is going to be interesting. Bev.
DeleteThe figure kicked around at the beginning was 32 million dollars. There is a mechanism in place at MSBA (according to their web site where MSBA kind of fronts the portion of funding that is reimbursable so the municipality does not have to borrow the entire amount, but considering you are dealing with the state, I would stand by for hoops to jump thru. Still a large sum for the town to go into debt for. Remember, Phillipston opted to not take part in this project and that information is available to all selectmen in the official minutes in hardbound books in the BOS office.
ReplyDeleteWould it make more sense to put the new school where the highway dept. is now and move highway to the WWTP to save on costs? I believe the land for the new school up by the brow is in the zone for adult entertainment, will this be revisited?
ReplyDelete